December 20: For Herself

…from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people.
Matthew 2:6 (ESV)

As the Christmas holiday began to close in, all the distractions of the season couldn’t calm her aching heart. Sue longed for connection with a husband who struggled under immense burdens — business problems, looming payroll, and college bills for two children. As he sank lower and lower, he told her he felt unlovable. Unworthy. A failure.

This morning with her Bible open at the kitchen table she couldn’t hold back the flood of tears. His lack of affection as well as their tense business-like conversations produced tidal waves of fear.

So what about this event, Lord? Peace on earth, they sang! A shepherd for my people, you said. Oh, how I need that to mean something to us. Here. Now. For my man, for my marriage.

In that moment, she realized the question sat before her on the table. Would she take the message for herself? She couldn’t seem to comfort her guy or make him see God’s love right now. She couldn’t even reach him. As she turned to look outside, the sun, brilliant in winter’s deep blue sky, slowly began to lift her heavy cloud. She gave her husband’s cloud to God. Somehow He would shepherd him through the sorrow, and bring him to Peace.

Lord, thanks for shepherding us to a place where we can take Your Peace – for ourselves! Amen.

Sandi Goforth